[Mpls] This Week in The Minneapolis Observer

[Craig Cox]

T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R
A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan
www.mplsobserver.com
Vol. 2, No. 14
November 11, 2002

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THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER:
* City May Crack Down, Cash In on Violations
* New Program Gets Kids Closer to School
* University Regents Reject Vikings Stadium Proposal
* Council Approves New, Cleaner Buses for Mall
* City Planning Urban Ski Race
Plus: Remembering Harry Davis, early-morning crack break, smashed windows in Linden Hills, Penny on the Wellstone machine (circa 1992), and Minneapolis as political bantustan.

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CITY MAY CRACK DOWN, CASH IN ON VIOLATIONS
As part of the mayor's already spare 2003 budget proposal, the city plans to levy an additional $1.7 million next year in fines for speeding and nuisance violations.

As Mike Mosedale reports in City Pages (www.citypages.com), the city inspections department will hire two new "finders" next year to scour the neighborhoods looking for unrepaired homes and businesses. Construction permits for such work is projected to generate some $300,000 in 2003. Special assessments for graffiti removal will bring another $530,000. But city officials argue that the increased enforcement is not specifically designed to enhance the city's bottom line. "I know it sounds like a 'gotcha' program, but that's not what we're trying to get at," said inspections department director Merwin Larson. "We're just trying to impress on people the importance of doing things according to code."

The city is also planning to crack down on speeders, projecting an additional $900,000 in traffic violations revenue for next year. Deputy Police Chief Greg Hestness said this, too, will be "revenue neutral," with the additional revenue covering the salaries of an additional 12 officers put on traffic detail. But a new statewide program to collect that revenue promises to add significantly to the city's coffers. A computer system called the Violations Bureau Electronics System (ViBES) was introduced last month in an effort to improve collections of delinquent fines. The program has been operating in Ramsey County since March and has helped collect some $2.7 million.

"The quantities we're bringing in are significantly increased," said Vicki Grasslee, an accounting supervisor at Ramsey County District Court, "and I only see it going up in the future."

NEW PROGRAM GETS KIDS CLOSER TO SCHOOL
Responding to tougher school attendance requirements and a citywide affordable housing crisis, an innovative program is finding housing for low-income families close to their kids' schools.

UNIVERSITY REGENTS REJECT VIKINGS STADIUM PROPOSAL
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents last week rejected the Minnesota Vikings initial proposal for a joint football stadium on campus.


COUNCIL APPROVES NEW, CLEANER BUSES FOR MALL
The City Council last month approved a $2.9 million plan to order eight new environmentally friendly circulator buses for the Nicollet Mall.


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The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. �2002 Independent Media, 4152 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406; www.mplsobserver.com. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Independent Media. Subscriptions: $12/yr. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get you off the list and refund the unused portion of your subscription.

Editor: Craig Cox
Deputy Assistant Senior Executive Editor: Sharon Parker
Contributing writers: Chris Dodge, Leo Mezzrow
Online technical assistance: Christopher Pollard
Equine consultant and correspondent: Nora Cox
Perspective: Martin Cox

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